How to Engage With New Members of the General Court

The 2024 elections have ushered in 22 new legislators to the Massachusetts Legislature - 3 in the Senate and 19 in the House. For public affairs professionals, this is a pivotal moment: building relationships with these new members early lays the foundation for collaboration, influence, and long-term success. Now is the time to ensure your organization’s priorities are understood and your voice is heard.

Early engagement with new legislators creates opportunities to shape legislative agendas, foster meaningful partnerships, and position your organization as a trusted resource. Below, we’ve outlined actionable strategies to guide your outreach efforts—and highlighted how MassTrac can support you every step of the way.

Research Their Backgrounds and Interests

Every new legislator brings unique experiences, perspectives, and policy priorities to the table. To make a strong first impression, tailor your outreach to their interests and expertise. The more relevant your approach, the more likely you’ll resonate.

With MassTrac’s legislator profiles, you can dive deep into their backgrounds, committee assignments, voting history, public statements, and policy preferences. Armed with this insight, you’ll be prepared to craft a personalized, impactful message that stands out.

Connect Early and Showcase your Value

The first few months of a legislator’s term are critical. New members are eager to establish their priorities and build relationships—but they’re also navigating a whirlwind of new responsibilities. By reaching out early, you can position yourself as a valuable resource before they’re inundated with competing demands.

Schedule introductory meetings to learn about their goals and offer your organization’s expertise as a support. Focus on listening rather than lobbying. Don’t forget to tap into your internal network to identify any pre-existing relationships with these new members, and leverage those connections to help make introductions.

Customize Your Messaging to Their District

Legislators are driven by the needs of their constituents. Show them how your policy priorities directly impact their district by bringing specific data, reports, or stories that resonate on a local level.

MassTrac’s data-driven reports make it easy to deliver localized insights, as you can keep track of bills based on specific categories, including those most relevant to a legislator’s district. By connecting your issues to their community, you’ll demonstrate relevance and build credibility.

Communicate Clearly and Concisely

New legislators and the staff are juggling an endless stream of information, so your communication needs to stand out by being concise and actionable. Avoid overloading them with jargon or lengthy documents. Instead focus on how your priorities align with their goals and offer resources or non-partisan information to help them navigate complex issues.

With MassTrac, you can keep track of legislators’ bills/amendments and have thoughtful conversations that cut through the noise and keep your communication focused, professional, and to the point.

Get Social for Strategic Visibility

Most legislators actively engage with their constituents on social media platforms like X, Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram. This presents a unique opportunity to connect in real-time. Share relevant insights, engage with their posts, and provide resources they can easily share with their followers.

Monitor their social media activity, so you can respond to their priorities and align your messaging with their public positions, fostering stronger connections. MassTrac has legislator social media profiles linked to their legislator profile. 

Get to Know their Team

Legislative staff are often the unsung heroes of policymaking. They’re the ones managing communications, coordinating meetings, and advising legislators on key decisions. Building strong relationships with staff ensures your message reaches the right people at the right time.

Take time to connect with staff members, understand their roles, and establish open lines of communication. With MassTrac’s staff directories, you’ll always know who to contact, helping you to establish those critical relationships early on.

Follow Up Consistently

Engagement isn’t a one-and-done process. Building relationships requires ongoing effort. Regularly check in with legislators and their staff, provide updates on policy developments, and offer insights on emerging issues.

With MassTrac’s tracking capabilities, you can set alerts for relevant bills, committee hearings, or legislative updates tied to their focus areas. This ensures your follow-ups are timely, informed, and valuable—keeping your organization top-of-mind as a trusted partner.

The Bottom Line

Engaging with new members of the Legislature is essential to advancing your organization’s policy goals. By researching their interests, crafting tailored communication, leveraging local data, and maintaining consistent follow-up, you can build relationships that make a lasting impact.

With MassTrac’s powerful tools, you’ll have everything you need to stay informed, organized, and strategic. From legislative tracking to a plethora of legislator data, MassTrac empowers you to turn early connections into long-term partnerships—setting your organization up for success in the months and years ahead.